Pictorial-advertising-display apparatus



Sept. 17, 1929. G. w. ESCHENBACH 1,728,402

PICTORIAL ADVERTISING DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, i927 4 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 17, 1929. G. w. ESCHENBACH 1,728,402

PICTORIAL ADVERTISING DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, .i927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lg'. 3 e /y 37 36 f I 65"' /f I 57 //l /i l Z355 65 y nl 0 90 `lllllmlllllllIllllllllllllllllllllllluummnwy 30 II .9/

Ill-m-l-...IIIUl-II` n lllll'lllll'lmll lil-llllelllllllllllll I Illxl lllllll v l? l 35 d k 1 l 3 L w A a f a I? 5 i220 39 55 l lzzvenoz.

yusavus WEs'c/zenbaczv.

lbf MW,

m8 .o rneya..

Sept. 17, 1929. G. w. EscHENBAcH 1,728,402

PICTORIAL ADVERTISING DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 192'? 6J 6r 55 liz-gai' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept* 17, 1929. G. w. EscHENBAcH 1,728,402

PICTORIAL ADVERTISING DISPLAY APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 26, 1927 n l n l l I?, Inventor. (zg. y.; z/savus wldclenbdck.

IHS Jtozneys Patented sept. 17, 1929 1,728,402

UNITED y.STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

Y GUsTAvUs W. Escirnlviuicrr,l F Los ANGELES. canmonma 31erORIAL-AnvERTIsmG-DISBLAY arrana'rus AApplication file d September 26,1927. Serial Ne. 221,876.

IThis inventiony relates to means fondisanothery in a predetermined position `while playing pictorial `advertising and thelike rthe shaft rotates, lwhich mounting will also and an'object 1thereof iste provide a' simple permit thefblocks when not intercepted to and etfcientmeans for attracting the attenrotate with the shaft.

y tion of the public toilthe matter displayed. lAnother feature of the invention is Vin, the 55 `To that/fend I provide an apparatus having novel means for interrupting the rotation of i apluralityj of aligned blocks,z that have pic- Jthe Ablocks at predetermined vperiods with torial advertising and the like,y painted, immeans connectedA therewith"v for. manually pressed or printed on'theii` sides with the altering the periodsv in which the rotation v pictorial subject matter arranged to match of the block is interrupted. 60

at adjacent marginal edges of the sides; and Anotherfeature of the invention is in the means lconnected therewith for intermittent constructiom combination n. and arrangement ly rotating the blocks separately, promis- 'of the parts -wherebyvtheA blocks are mounted cuously or altogether and in such manners as in a casing j adjacent an aperture through will '.pjresent lvaried -panoramic pictorial `which a` single side of each block is visible, 65

views adapted to attract attentionvto them. Sothat thechan'ging panoramic'` view formed In other words I provide means of attractby matched sides fofnthe picture blocks aping attention -to Athe subject matterbythe pear asfifarranged in a picturefpama' continuity of the-.change in, the ,panoramic Another feature vof invention is in the View1 The movementpf ablock, series `of novel means vfor mounting Vand holding the 70 blocks,;or alliofthekblocksto,harmoniously pictorial 0r advertising'y sides =of the blocks* ,change a panoramic, viewM or change one in their respective frames whereby they can panoramicl view ,foranpther willnaturally be removed when desired A and replaced with attractl and, hold the. attention ofthe public other sides. asuiiicienttime.forlthe-subject matter-tp Abe @ther objects7 advantages and featuresof T5 Observed ,Op read, invention may appear from the accompany- Another. Object: of the invention istoproing'drawings, the subjoined detailed descripvide an apparatus for 4. displaying, advertistion andthe appended claims. ing er thelikdthatn additionfto attracting if The accompanying drawings illustrate the the attentionof the pub/lic can also be utilized nVentiOn. 80

for.entertainment.,E or..pleasing4 vinstructive i *Figure 1 is a front view 0f a pictorial'adpastime. Y In ,other wordsthe faces of the vertlsing display apparatus that is constructblocks can ,beiprovided lwithhumorous piced in' accordance with this inventiornI showtures matched adjacent their marginal 'edges 111g a jgia-Ilorxamic viewon the matching faces I which, when turned to changed position, will of five aligned blocks, and-an `advertisement 85 produce a new combination that will provide 0n' the faceof the cabinet.

amusing entertainment, or the pictorial views Flg. 2 is a' view analogous to Fig. l; showcan be subject matter that is instructive ras ing another panoramic view formed by a one well as entertaining. step rotationof the two end blocksand center 40 `Anotherpobject of the invention is to problock While the other-blocksare held sta- 90 vide-an apparatus for displaying pictorial tiOnary and .showing the advertising aradvertising that is illuminated in a new ranged 0n thegblocks instead ofthe cabinet; effective and useful way. That is, I provide 21150. showing a COlnel POIOII. 0f .they billei lamps within lthe-blocksthat are colored so broken away Vtoshovv. inv vfull line the cams as to produce novel eects adapted to attract for stopping the rotation of the left hand 95 the attention of the publicto lthe advertising. blockf-the kother cams being` indicated lby Afeature ofthe invention is shown in the dotted lines, and parts omitted forthe sake novel means for mounting the blocks on an ofclearness in the drawing.

intermittently actuated shaft sov that they Fig. `3 is an enlarged cross section `on line can. be ,held Stationary.independently @tene 3??, .Fia 1 pertshewe desrammetieelly 100 Fig. 4 is a fragmental section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing a plan view of the driving apparatus.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental section on line 5-5, Fig. 3, parts omitted.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on line 7-7, Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8, Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a projected view of the facesv of five square blocks with pictures on the faces of each block that arel adapted to match at joining marginal edges so as to form a series of panoramic views. l j

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the lighting system employed for varied color illuminations of the panoramic views.

l Fig. 11 is a grouped side view of a set of cams that are utilized for moving stops into engagement with the blocks.

Fig. 12 isa diagrammatic side view of a block having eight sides' or faces.

The apparatus includes a closed cabinet lhaving a front 14 through which there is an aperture 15 surrounded by la picture frame 16, bottom 17, back 18, roof 19, and ends 20, 21, that can be formed of any suitable material and secured together in any well known way.

The picture frame 16 is shown plain in the drawing, but it is understood that it may be vornamental if desired; also it is understood .that all of the space on the front 14 outside 'and it is adapted to be intermittently rotated by a motor 24.

A gear on the motor shaft 26 is arranged to drive a large gear 27 on a shaft 28. e gear 27 carries a mutilated gear 29 that is about the same diameter; and the teeth of this gear are arranged to mesh with the teeth of a pinion 30 mounted on a shaft 31'supported by brackets 32 secured to the roof 19, so that when the motor is driven the pinion will be intermittently rotated va fraction of a complete revolution, or theA degrees in the arc occupied by the teeth of the mutilated gear.

The number vof teeth in theV mutilated gear can be arranged to rotate the pinion fortyfive, sixty or ninety degrees as may be required. When the blocks have eight pictured sides as indicated vin Fig. 12, the mutilated ,gearv 29 is provided with suiicient teeth to 'move thepinion 30`forty-iive degrees; and when the blocks have six pictured sides as indicated in Figs. 3rand 4 the pinion 30 is moved sixty degrees, and when the blocks .have four pictured sides, as indicated in Figs. 5, 6 and 9 the pinion 30 is moved ninety degrees each time the mutilated gear makes a complete revolution.

For the sake of clearness in illustration the gear 25 on shaft 26 and gear 27 on shaft 28 are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3 and they are proportioned in the ratio of about ten to one, so that there will be considerable time in the intervals between the intermittent movements of the pinion 30 so the blocks will be held stationary a sufficient time for the subject matter to be seen and understood.

A'pulley 33 is secured to the shaft 31 in line with another pulley 34 of the same diameter that is secured to the shaft 22 and they are connected by a belt 35 so that when the pinion 30 is actuated the shaft 22 will be rotated substantially the same distance or number of degrees as the pinion 30. A brake 36 is arranged to engage the side ofthe pulley 33 and stopping it the moment the last tooth of the mutilated gear 29 has been released from driving engagement with the teeth of the pinion 30. This brake is secured to the end wall 20 by screws 37; and tension is applied to the brake by a. hand screw 38.

Also a belt tightening arm 39 of usual type is pivotally connected to the wall 20 by a bearing 40. The arm 39 carries a pulley 41 that engages the inner surface of the belt 35 and by means of spring 42 holds it taut on the pulleys 33, 34.

The picture blocks are preferably formed with either four or six faces, and they are mounted and rotated so that a face of each can be intermittently exposed through the aperture 15 in the cabinet. That is, the blocks are mounted so that-they can be stopped from rotation without interfering or stopping the rotation of the shaft 22, and when stopped a face of each is visible through the aperture in the cabinet, and collectively the pictured .faces form a panoramic picture.

The blocks are preferably constructed and mounted as best shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 and they are arranged between fixed collars 43 on the shaft 22 so that adjacent ends 44 of the respective blocks engage one another, but they are .sufficiently loose for each block to turn freely on the shaft irrespective of the other blocks when necessary.

Spring bars 45 are secured to the block ends 44 with their free ends inclined inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the shaft 22 so that they grip it with sufficient force to cause the blocks to rotate with the shaft when they are not interrupted by the spring stops 46, see Figs. 3 and 4.

A spring stop 46 is provided for each block and they are secured to a back plate 47 that extends the full length of the cabinet; and this plate is connected to the ends 20, 21 by screws 48.

The stops 46 are arranged to be moved into engagement with the corners of the blocks :Whenever:A theyf; are to ube-.interrupted vor stopped from rotation onesixthgof a revolution or axmultiple thereofto expose a panoramic` viewvthrough the aperture 15 in .the cabinet ;y the block shaft 22 and cam shaft being driven at substantially the same speed,

the interruption ofthe blocks onesi`xth of a revolution or multiple thereof permitsan vautomatic realignment of the `'faces-of the vblocksas there are six sides to each block.

The/stops 46 can be moved into-engagement kWith the eornersof the Ablocks by any one of a -mu'lt-i-ple: thereof,-depending on the number of projections on each cam... In other Words a cam with one proj ectionwill interrupt thev rotationof a block at the beginning of a `onesixth period of rotation .and release it atithe termination. of therperiod so ftha't zthe. faces of the interruptedrblockwill berealigned with the faces of thei .other moving blocks when started` again. It is obvious'that the: cams .With .,morenl projectionsl vWill operate in the same manner.

. It is understood that When blocksiivith only four sides are used the period of interruption of rotation Will' berone; fourth of .af revolution or` mnltiplethe'reof and sozion With blocks having more; or' 'lessi asides.

For conveniencerandy cheapness in construction applicantahas. showr'rfhis cams formed of ordinary spur gears With one er'more. teeth cut out, it-being'understood. that the cams can be constructed in..the= usualzwvay if desired.

' These cams are secured to a sliding shaft 54 ythat is, fslida'blynand rotatably mounte-d.. in bearings 55' seclured to the endsfof the 'cabinet; and thi's shaft is extended avconsiderable dis tance. through the ends' ofthe cabinet so: that it. can be moved'endwise. toA changevthe position offth'e cams relative totheir respective stops. y:InF 1 theright'handend? of this shaft isrbroken away, it being lunderstood that it extends out oftheiend:` of thev cabinet the same distance as the left hand end on Which there-is ahandle154 for facilitatingthe .reciprocation ofthis shaft to change the order o-frotation ofthe blocks.: Also inFig. 52 the ends ofl shaft 54 are broken away, there not being room for .the extended ends in the drawrnv.

' indicated* in .-Fig. 2 the cams can be placed on the shaft in'na promiscuous order, so thata" great variety of changes can be made in the rotation of the blocks by moving the shaft 54 endwise in either direction. lAs shown in this figure the shaft is positioned so `that cam 50 engages fitsxstop four, times .during a revolution of .thacain shaf-tz54-fand thereby interrupts the rotation of block 55 two thirds of a revolution. Garn 51 stops the block 56 one half of a revolution, cam 49 stops the block 57 five sixths of a revolution, cam 53 stops the block 58 once and cam 52 stops the block 59 one third of a revolution each revolution of the cam shaft; and, as previously stated, the cams are constructed so that they coact With thestops v46 in interrupting and releasing the block, in

a period of one-sixth of a revolution or multiple thereof 5 and When the blocks are released after an` interruption their faces are properly aligned With the facesof the other moving blocks.

- It can readily be seen that if the cam shaft.,

54 is shifted one step to the right the order of the active cams Vwill be changed from V50, 51, 49, 53 and-'52 to49, 52, 51, 49 and 51; and if :movedone step to the left the order of the active cams will be 51, 50, 48, 49and 50. '1 The cam shaft 54 isdriven in timed relation torthe block shaft 22 by a train of gears 60, 61 and 62 that are of the same pitch diameter. The intermediate gear 61 is mounted on a jack shaft 63 and its teeth mesh With the teeth of the gear 6001i shaft`22 and also lWith the teeth of the gear'62 on the cam shaft so that When the shaft 22 is driven the cam shaft will also be actuated in timed relation to it.

i The blocks 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 are pref- :erably constructed substantially alike except that they can have four, six or eight picture sides vor faces, it being understood=-that the number of picture sides to each block can be more or less; and also it is'funderstood that lblock are mounted and detachablyheldin place by spring clips 67 that arestamped out of extensions 68 integral With the angle irons.

If desired the ends' 44 of. the blocks can be perforated with opening 144 throughjwhich the :light from the `lamps can-pass from block to block toblend with one another, see F ig. 6.

lThe plates orpicture sides 66 can beformed of any suitable material, but preferably they are formed of glass or other transparent` substance, although in some cases it may be desirable to use semi-transparent or opaque material in forming the faces.

As previously indicated the sides are removable from the frame by y moving the spring clips 67 into positions to release the marginal edges of the plates by which means the sides of the blocks are removable and intei-changeable, and so that an entirely dierent set of picture faces can be placed on the blocks Without removing the block frames from the shaft.

A means is provided for illuminating the interior of the blocks preferably With varied colored lights. f

llO

CFI

The shaft 22 is hollow and lined with an insulation tube 69 through which the wire 70 is extended to the lamps 71, 72, 7 3, 74 and 75, and also wire 76 to lamps 77, 78, 79, 8O and 81 that are diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10.

The wires 7 0 and 76 are connected to rotary contacts 82 and 83 that rotate with the shaft 22 and which are arranged to engage the respective contact rings 84, 85 secured on an insulation block 86, see Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The contacts 82, 83 are yieldingly held in engagement with the rings 84, 85 by springs 87 arranged in insulation plugs 88 so that the shaft 22 is free to turn without breaking electrical connection between these parts.

The rings 84, 85 are connected to a double pole switch 89 by wires 90, 91. The switch is connected to a source of electric energy such as the battery 92 by a split wire 93 so that when desired either one or the other lines of lamps or all of them can be lighted; and continue lighted Without interfering with the rotation of the shaft 22.

Preferably the lamps are arranged so that there are two in each block as best shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive and Fig. 10; but there may be more or less if so desired. As indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 sockets 94 are provided in the shaft 22 for the lamps, it being understood that suitable sockets are provided in the shaft for all of the lamps.

Preferably the lamps are colored as indicated in Fig. 10, in which the lamp 71 is red, 72 red and yellow, 73 yellow, 74 yellow and orange, orange, 77 blue, 78 blue and green, 79 green, 8O green and purple, and 81 purple.

It is obvious that a wonderful varigated lighting effect can be obtained by illuminating the lamps when the transparent sides of the blocks carry interchangeable, matched panoramic pictures.

The matching of the pictures to obtain changing panoramic effects is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 9, in which blocks having four pictured faces each are shown. As seen in Fig. 1 a connected panoramic picture is seen through the aperture 15 that is formed by matched faces of the respective blocks, and it is assumed that the apparatus is in operation and that momentarily all of the blocks are held stationary. Then referring to Fig. 2 it is again assumed that blocks 55, 57 and 59 have been moved a quarter turn and the blocks 56 and 58 held stationary whereby an apparently entirely different panoramic View is dis played.

This matching of the block sides to form changeable and interchangeable varied panoramic views is further illustrated in Fig. 9 in which the four pictured sides of the five blocks 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 are arranged side by side and projected so as to illustrate that the pictures of the adjacent faces of the blocks will match uniformally to produce a panoramic picture of multiform nature.

In other words if one or more of these blocks or all of them are rotated promiscuously in steps of ninety degrees as provided continuously changing panoramic pictures will be displayed through the aperture 15 in the cabinet.

When octagonal blocks 94 are used such as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 12 the apparatus is operated so as to rotate the shaft 22 in steps of forty-five degrees as previously indicated.

In operation the blocks are arranged on the shaft 22 in auniform position with adjacent pictured faces laying in the same plane with a side of each block visible through the aperture in the cabinet. Then the motor 24 is started to rotate the shaft 22 in intermittent steps of forty-five, sixty or ninety degrees according to the form of blocks used in the apparatus. It is understood of course that the number of teeth in the mutilated gear 29 would need agree with the distance the shaftl 22 is to be rotated when the apparatus is made to operate with blocks of four, six, eight faces or more. In other words an apparatus formed to operate with a four sided block is not adapted to operate with blocks with a greater or less number of faces, although the arrangement of the parts and the operation is the same.

As the mutilated gear revolves it turns the shaft 22 a sufficient distance to rotate the blocks one intermittent step if they are not interrupted by the stops 46.

As previously indicated the Cam shaft 47 can be manipulated so that all the blocks can be simultaneously held stationary or permitted to rotate in an apparent promiscuous order.

In other words if the cams 48 are `secured to the shaft so that they all will engage their respective stops at the same time the six sided blocks will never be permitted to rotate. In other words if the cams have the same number of projections as the number of faces on the blocks they will prevent the blocks from moving which in some instances may be desired in this advertising apparatus; consequently the number of projections on the cams govern the number of interruptions imparted to the blocks on each revolution ofthe block shaft; and, as previously stated, each projection on the cams coacts with its respective stop 46 to interrupt and release its respective block in periods of one-sixth of a revolution so that the sides'of the blocks are properly re-aligned after an interruption, and the stops are arranged to interrupt the rotation of the blocks at the moment their faces are properly aligned in the aperture.

Preferably the cams are arranged in a promiscuous order as shown in Fig. 2, so that all the blocks will'not move at the same time;

and so that when the cam shaft is shifted one way or the other a complete change in the order of rotating the blocks will be effected.

In other words the shifting of the cam shaft may cause a block that has been relatively idle to become very active and vice versa.

As previously indicated advertising matter 100 can be placed either on the front of the cabinet or on the blocks; and the faces of the blocks are removable so that they can be taken out when desired and replaced by other sides having other subject matter thereon; and in operation the lamps can be used as and when desired to cause a blending of different colored lights which in addition to passing through the sides of the blocks to illuminate the panoramic pictures thereon also passes through the openings in the ends ofthe blocks to produce a changing blending color effect.

The openings 144 through the ends of the blocks are arranged so that they are momentarily closed when a stationary block is adjacent to a revolving block, which temporary closing will effect a variation in the lighting.

I claim as my invention:

1. A pictorial display apparatus includi U a series of similar blocks of uniform size aiid shape in a row with peripheral faces for pictures, letters and the like, means for rotatinv said blocks to a predetermined extent, and means for stopping the rotation of any of said blocks when in the desired position relative to the other blocks, substantially as set forth.

2. A pictorial display apparatus including a plurality of blocks adapted to have pictures, letters and the like placed thereon, a shaft on which said blocks are frictionally mounted, means for intermittently rotating said shaft to rotate said blocks and means for stopping any of said blocks when in the desired position relative to the other blocks.

3. A pictorial display apparatus including a plurality of blocks arranged in a row beside each other, a block shaft extending through said blocks, spring bearings secured to said blocks for frictionally engaging said shaft so that said blocks and shaft normally rotate together, and stops for stopping the rotation of any of said blocks at predetermined times.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, and cams for actuating said stops.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3, and a cam shaft driven in timed relation to said block shaft, and cams on said cam shaft for moving said stops into engagement with said blocks.

6. A pictorial display apparatus including a plurality of blocks adapted to have pictures, letters and the like placed thereon, a block shaft extending through said blocks, spring bearings on said blocks that frictionally engage said shaft and normally cause the blocks to rotate with the shaft, means for f infermatentlyrotating-sd'brck shaft, stops normally out ofzengagement with said blocks, "andi Im'ean's for' moving" isaid@ stops Vinto en- -f gagement'withsaid blocks for thekpurpose 8;' A pictorial display apparat'u's'includingf:

la plurality of uniformblocks', afblock shaft A"extending throiigh "saidiblocksf spring `bearings `"secured 4:tosaidy Iblocks and" arranged to --frictio'nallyeiigageVsa-id `shaft so *that ynorl"means' forintermittentlyrotating said shaft, Ls1`3ring stops 'i'iiori'nally?` fout; l of engagement saidlbl'ocks ae'amshaftI arranged to lrotate rin`- timed relation t said 2'block shaft,

-andams on saidlca'mY` shaft adaptedto inter- 'and afbrake 'for'A stopping therotation of 'said ,A

shafts andlfblcks'atfthe end"l of their rotatfing ir'itermittentA periods.

Y 10. In a pictorial display a'tppa'ratus the combination of a'cabinet 'having an aperture therein, a block shaft, blocks mounted; 'on' said 5 shaft"y so'thatl ai 1face of eachfb'lo'ckis visible through the aperture in said cabinet, pictures on the faces of said blocks that are adapted to match so as to form panoramic views, and means for promiscuously intermittently rotating said blocks for the purpose specified.

11. In a pictorial display apparatus the combination of a cabinet having an aperture therein, a shaft, blocks on said shaft, faces to said blocks that have pictures thereon that are adapted to form panoramic views, means for promiscuously intermittently rotating one or more of said blocks to change the appearance of the panoramic views, and means for changing the order of rotation of said blocks.

12. In a pictorial display apparatus, a series of blocks mounted in a row beside each other, and having removable faces that are adapted to have pictures, letters and the like placed thereon, and means for intermittently rotating one or more of said blocks so as to form various panoramic views.

13. In a pictorial display apparatus the combination of a cabinet having a display aperture, a rotatable block shaft in the cabinet, blocks frictionally mounted on said Shaft and arranged to be visible through said aperture in said cabinet, stops normally out of engagement with said blocks, a cam shaft, cams on said cam shaft arranged to move said stops into engagement with said blocks to intermittently interrupt their rotation with Asaid block shaft, a driving connection between said block shaft and cam shaft, and

fac

niileafns for intermittently rotating said block s a t. v v

14. The combination ysetkfforth in claim 13,

and a brake. for stopping said block shaft at v the end of its intermittent rotating periods.

15. The combination set forth in claim 13,

and means for reciprocating said cam shaft endwise to change the order of interrupting the rotation of said blocks, and a brake for A'10 stopping said block shaft atthe ends of its rotating periods.

` 16. The combination set forth in claim 13, and means whereby said blocks can rot-ate independently of one another, means for chang- 1,5 ing the order of interrupting the rotation of said blocks,y anda brake for stopping said block shaft at the ends of its rotating periods. 17.. In a pictorial displayr apparatus the combination of a cabinet having a front adapted to have advertising placed thereon,

blocks arranged to intermittently rotate adjacent an aperture in said cabinet to attract attention to the advertising thereon; transparent detachable sides to said blocks, col- 25 ored lamps in said blocks, and means Whereby the lights from saidlamps can pass from Ablockto block. A

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto aiiixe'd ymy signature. t GUSTAVUS W. .ESCHENBACII 

